Hydrofoil system for boats



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HYDROFOIL SYSTEM FOR BOATS l NEUTRAL.

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. HYDRoFoIL SYSTEM FOR BoA'rs Filed Feb. 2s, 195e 19 Sheets-Sheet 17 Y img?. coym Gordon' @MQW Tramway Oct. 2l, 1958 J. G. BAKER 2,856,878

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Trams HYDRFGEL SYSTEM FUR BOATS .lohn Gordon Baker, Evansvile, Wis.

Appiication February 23, 1956, Serial No. 567,303

38 Claims. (Cl. 114-665) This invenion relates to a system of so-called hydrofoils which are mounted on the hull of a boat and function by forward motion of the boat to raise and support the latter above the water.

One object is to provide a novel arrangement of hydrofoils which is much less susceptible than prior systems to dropping of the boat under extraordinary conditions that may be encountered in service use.

A second object is to provide a hydrofoil system for boats arranged to be adjusted automatically to suit operating conditions when negotiating a turn.

A third and more detailed object is to provide for automatic and differential variation in the effective angle of incidence of the different hydrofoils and to correlate such angle adjustments with the boat steering mechanism.

A fourth object is to mount the hydr'ofoils in a novel manner which not only permits of adjustment of their effective angles but also enables the foils to be lowered into the water or raised into an out of the way position by control from a remote point within the boat.

A fth object is to provide a novel power actuated mechanism for folding and unfolding the several hydrofoils.

A sixth object is to incorporate in the foil folding mechanism a novel means for permitting yielding of the foil upon encountering an obstruction.

The invention also resides in the novel manner of mounting and actuating the hydrofoils to achieve the foregoing objects.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, 'in which:

Figure l is a front elevational View of a motor boat equipped with a hydrofoil system embodying the n'ovel features of the` present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken vsubstantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is ya fragmentary perspective View of thesteering connection to 'one of the front hydro'foils.

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sectional views vtaken respectively along the lines 4 4 and S-S of Fig. 2;

Fig. '6 is a View similar to Fig. Sbut showing different positions of the parts.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view taken .substantially along the line 7- 7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross section taken along the line l8 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a schematic View of the mechanism for ladjusting thel positions of the hydrofoils.

Fig. l is a fragmentary sectional vi'ewt'aken'al'ong Athe line lil-10 of Fig. 8.

Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14 are schematic Views illustrating the different positions of a hydrofoil.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary View similar yto Fig. L2 -but showing a different position of a lhydrofoil-and its mounting.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary side elevational view of .a boat t ICC equipped with the improved hydrofoil system, certain parts being broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 17 is a plan view of one of the rear hydrofoils and its mounting on the stern of the boat.

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic View of the linkages for effecting differential steering automatically in negotiating a turn.

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified arrangement for mounting the front hydrofoils.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary perspective view of oneof the front hydrofoils in normal operating position.

Fig. 2l is a fragmentary section taken along the line 21-21 of Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 20 showingl a front hydrofoil partially retracted and folded.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 23-23 of Fig. 19.

Fig. 24 is a rear elevational view of the hydrofoil unit when folded against the side of the boat.

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 25-25 of Fig. 19 with the parts in the folded position of the hydrofoil.

Figs. 26 and 27 are fragmentarysectional views taken respectively along the lines 26-26 and 27-27 of Fig. 25.

Fig. 28 is a schematic view of the hydraulic circuit diagram..

Fig. 29 is a schematic View of the steering and incidence adjusting mechanism for the front hydrofoils.

Fig. 30 is a schematic view of the steering linkage.

Fig. 3l is .a rear elevational view 'of a hydrofoil for supporting the stern ofthe boat.

Figs. 3.2 and 33 are side elevational and plan views partially broken away vof the rear hydrofoil` shown .in Fig. 31.

Fig. 34 is a fragmentary line 34-34 yof Fig. 25.

Fig. 35 is a schematic view of a modified arrangement of the steering axes for the front hydrofoils Fig.' 36 is a vertical cross section of the hydrofoils shownin Fig.l 35.

Fig. 37 is a schematic perspective view showing different positions of the hydrofoils shown in Fig. 36.

F our foi-l system-Figs. 1 to 18 In general-In the form shown in Figs. l to 17:, the improved hydrofoil `system comprises two pairs of hydrofoils 10 and 11 mounted at the front and rear -ends of a boat 12 adapted to be propelled by a `screw 13 Y(Fig. 16 driven by an linboard motor 14 through a .shaft 1.5'within a downwardly inclined tubular housing 18. Through -a universal coupling 16 and aflexible collar A22, the propeller may be moved between the positions shown Ain full and phantom in Fig. 16 to permit the boat to be propelled while resting on :the water .surface or when supported above the latter by the'hydrofoils. Such raising andlowering of the propeller may be effected by suitable mechanism disposed within the boat and connected to the tube 18 by a-strut 28.

The hydrofoils 10 and 11 are of the construction 'disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 544,865, filed November 4, 1955 and each comprises generally ya bar 48 of foil cross section shown in Fig. 2 withits intermediate portion or loop bent into a V (-see Fig. v1) and its ends disposed yparallel to each other .and secured rigidly to opposite ends of a tube 49. Midway-.between its ends, `the tube is journaled in a split bearing `50 5(1Figs. 1, 2 and 4) Vheld between axially spaced shoulders 51 `on the tube and formed on alhousing 52 which .is supported outwardly lfrom t-heboat and .above :the water for adjustment about :the axis 53 ofthe tube which, .whenthe foils are; disposed substantially in a vertical plane with the Vs submerged in the water, is disposed horizontally and sectional view taken along the 

